Bessie was born May 24, 1912 in Daviess County, near Pattonsburg, Missouri, the daughter of Charles and Debby (Palmer) Brown, and was called to rest on Tuesday, June 29, 2004 at the home of her daughter near Jameson, Missouri at the age of 92 years, 1 month, and 5 days. She lived her younger years around the Pattonsburg area and went to school in Civil Bend.

As a young lady, her family moved to a farm near Randolph, Iowa then went on to Blockton and the Athelstan area. There is where she met her first husband, Turner Rusco. On September 7, 1929, she was united in marriage to Turner. To this union came one son, Jack, 3 daughters, Beverly, Mildred, and Peggy, and two step-children, Royal and Marjorie. They lived on several different farms, and then moved into Athelstan where they raised their family and sent the children to school.

It was hard times with little money; it was

plain hard work to survive. As a young woman, she accepted God into her life. She joined a local church and took her children with her. She was a hard working Mother. She loved flowers and made many quilts. She raised large gardens and canned the produce. She raised chickens, baked bread, and did her wash the hard way, on the board. Her pride and joy was a wringer type washing machine (gas engine) purchased for her birthday.

With her family growing, they moved to a farm near Conway, Iowa. They lived there until Turner's death. Bessie stayed there until it was just too much hard work for her and the children to survive. She moved her family into town, where she worked for the local telephone company for several years and as a cook at the Taylor County Home.

Although there were many ups and downs, she saw to it that all her children graduated from the Conway High School.

One of her saddest days was when her son joined the Navy and went off to the Korean War. She thanked the Good Lord when everything worked out fine.

Bessie knew Leland Stitt since grade school They met again and were married on April 3, 1953 in Harrisonville, AR. She gained two more step-children, Larry and Shirley.

They moved to Kansas City, Kansas where Leland worked for General Motors. He preceded her in death on March 11, 1993.

Bessie leaves many loved ones to celebrate her life. Those include a son, Jack Rusco and wife, Nancy, Pacific Junction, IA and their family, Steve and Lorelei Rusco, Gravity, IA, Mike and Roxanne Rusco, Omaha, NB, Robert Rusco, and Sue Rusco, both of Glenwood, IA; a daughter, Beverly Gould, Carlisle, IA and her family, Randy and Barb Gould, Indianola, IA, Joan and Phil Thomas, Omaha, NB, Ron and Michell Gould, Des Moines, IA, Rick and Dorothy Gould, Carlisle, IA, Jeff and Mary Gould, Swan, IA, Diane and Chris Hardy, Milo, IA; a daughter, Mildred Norton, Bedford, IA, and her family, Jackie and Dennis McMillen and Paul Norton, all of Conway, IA; a daughter, Peggy Jincks and husband, James, Jameson, MO, and their family Dena and Terry McNeely, Jameson, MO, Royal's son, Jim Rusco, Bedford, IA, Step-son Larry Stitt and wife, Julia, Pattonsburg, MO and their family, Brad Stitt, Kansas City, MO and Dawn Stitt, Pattonsburg, MO; step-daughter, Shirley Miller and husband, Jim, Belton, MO, brother, Dean Brown and companion, Mary Lawrence Jones, Stanberry, MO; several great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends.

She also was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Harold and Homer Brown; sisters, Jessie Peterson and Cuma Combs; son-in-law, Eldon Gould and Robert Norton; step-daughter, Marjorie Christienson and husband, Tom; Step-son Royal Rusco and wife, Bea; and four great-grandchildren.

Some of our fondest memories are of the Pink Farm, near Pattonsburg, Missouri. Leland's folks lived there on the banks of the Grand River until their passing. Leland and Bessie fixed up the property for a get-a-way from city living. We didn't mind walking a quarter mile, in the mud. It was the Pink Farm! However, we were overjoyed when they graveled the road. We all gathered on weekends to fish, swim, have mud fights, get scared by bats, and have fish frys. We also had some good old hot dog and marshmallow roasts. We always picked wild berries and during the fall picked up walnuts and hickory nuts. We all had good times and lots of memories.

When Leland retired, they moved to Jameson, Missouri on the banks of the Grand River. He enjoyed fishing and she enjoyed cooking them, nobody could fry fish better than Grandma Bess, just ask her grandchildren. As her health failed, she went to live with her duaghter and son-in-law, Peg and James. Leland stayed home until his death. They were married almost forty years. She deteriorated and had a brief stay in a nursing home. On her ninety-first birthday, Peg and James brought her home to stay. She was happy with loved ones taking care of her.

We want to thank all the day nurses, visiting nurses, and Doctors who took such good care of her. With a special thanks to Patti and Rachael. Jack, Beverly, and Mildred want to thank Peg and James for giving up their daily lives to take care of Mom these past years. It was your loving care that kept her going. You did a wonderful job. Thank God, for our Mother, we had her many years and loved her dearly.

Interment: Pattonsburg Memorial Gardens, Pattonsburg, Mo, July 3, 2004